Australia's Science Forum

To take up Kathryn's comment about Nickel II chloride - RiskAssess has classified it as Teacher Only until a dilution of 0.19M, along with a very long list of warnings. Yr 11 and 12 can use it at 0.008 - 0.077M. Yr 7-12 - it's safe to use when less than 0.008M. According to Safe Work Australia: Nick...

I am very envious - looks so organised and efficient!
We have hundreds of drawers that look the same....

That's a worry, Kathryn, another reason why the new CSIS is way overdue for release...

We have just subscribed to RiskAssess and I am planning to do the same thing. Looks like it will take a lot longer than I thought!

I have also collected boxes and think I need to throw some away too! Would love to pass them on to someone who needs them but it's just too much effort. A drop of iodine turns black - shows the starch content. Great idea I picked up from a website was to help you when hammering a nail into a piece o...

And the free chemical waste collection????

I bought some of those by mistake and most staff didn't like them, they are too small! (the same size as a mouse - as in the device to move the cursor!) They're better for a small whiteboard, not a big classroom whiteboard. Good luck!

OfficeMax Magnetic Whiteboard & Chalkboard Eraser, Code: 2285215
OfficeMax Whiteboard Eraser Pad Refill, Pack of 6, Code: 1482440

Hope they're better than what you are currently using, which might be the Quartet brand you can also get from OfficeMax?

We get the OfficeMax brand magnetic ones as well as the boxes of refills for them. The teachers don't replace the pad often enough and sometimes just ask for a new eraser! But the erasers do generally last a year or two. On the subject, we have found the best whiteboard markers are Artline 577 - the...

Good question, linotas.

Labbie, excuse my ignorance, but how would French Polishing be related to science?

I managed to make some of my own by heating sulfur in the fume cupboard. When it liquefied, I poured it into small moulds (like an ice tray). It's very fragile but has lasted a couple of years, the pieces just get smaller as it breaks!

We bought the Pasco pH probes from CiderHouseTech. They are WiFi and/or Bluetooth, seem really easy to use. They are not cheap (about $150 each) but don't need any additional interface at all, they download an app to their phones and connect directly to a specific probe. Hopefully this link will wor...

While I was researching the buffer solution, I found out how to make standard pH buffer solutions, might be of interest if you need one in a hurry? (All values assume a calibration temperature of 25 Celsius.)  pH 4.00 buffer solution: 100 mL of 0.1 M Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate + 0.2 mL of 0.1 M...

Thanks linotas - I will persist....

We recently received a set of the WiFi pH probes, which are fantastic, the seniors have been using them non-stop. We need to top up the buffer solution and according to the documentation it's a 4M solution of potassium chloride, mixed with a pH 4 buffer solution as well as a few drops of pH buffer p...

I do the same, remlap12 & melsid, although I wish I had a Woolies/Coles account I could use.

Is this what you are referring to??? Published in SchoolBiz last week OfficeMax Australia purchased by Platinum Equity Platinum Equity has recently purchased OfficeMax Australia. The transaction follows Platinum Equity’s acquisition of Staples, now known as Winc, in 2017. The Department of Educati...

I think I heard last year that they were struggling? Maybe it all got too difficult? Their website has been down for a few weeks now, I think. How sad.

I have found it so difficult to order stoppers - and it is such a hit-and-miss process. For the last year or two I have kept one stopper from each packet of 10, along with the supplier code and price, which will hopefully make my ordering ordeal a lot simpler in future! Good luck, I don't envy you, ...

It was the most fabulous way to learn specific skills, network, share information and feel supported. Thanks to everyone who helped make it such a success. You must have sacrificed so much of your personal time - much appreciated!

We have tested out our brand new microscopes with a drop of Motic oil that came with them - the booklet says we should use Xilene to clean the objective and slide. Any ideas what else will work? Microfibre cloth?